Con Rules

Realms Con Code of Conduct

Realms Con is committed to providing all convention guests, attendees, staff, and the general public with a fun and safe environment. To that end, Realms Con abides by all Texas Statutes found in the Texas Penal Code.

The following is the Realms Con Code of Conduct.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: By attending Realms Con you agree to abide by all conditions and terms defined within this code of conduct.

REALMS CON CODE OF CONDUCT

Realms Con convention attendees are considered at his or her own risk in regards to the dangers incidental to Realms Con. (This includes personal injury.) Acceptance of your convention badge or bracelet constitutes consent to the use of the wearer’s image or likeness in any recording, transmission, or reproduction of Realms Con and consent to ejection without refund for inappropriate behavior or failure to comply with the Realms Con Code of Conduct.

Any action that might be construed as disruptive to fellow convention attendees, staff, or the general public is prohibited. Examples include: screaming, yelling, etc. This also includes the use of a megaphone, microphone, music player, etc. without the express permission of Realms Con.

Please treat all Realms Con property and the Omni Hotels and Resorts facilities with respect. Any convention attendee that damages, defaces, or steals Realms Con property and/or Omni Hotels and Resorts facilities and/or property will not be tolerated and violators will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

Aisles and hallways must remain reasonably clear at all times in case of an emergency. Please consider fellow convention attendees, staff, and the general public and do not obstruct the flow of traffic through any areas.

“Disorderly Conduct and Related Offenses” and “Public Indecency,” as defined by the Texas Penal Code, are crimes. Disorderly conduct and public indecency will not be tolerated and violators will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. In regards to Realms Con, this mainly pertains to offensive and/or revealing attire. No “under breasts or buttocks” should be visible. All lewd actions and behavior, offensive and/or revealing attire, and any uses of abusive, indecent, profane, or vulgar language in a public place are prohibited.

Realms Con does not tolerate harassment of any kind (sexual, bullying, racial, etc.) If an attendee determines they have experienced sexual harassment or bullying, please notify a Realms Con Staff member, Omni Hotels Resorts personnel, or any Corpus Christi Police officer present at the convention.

Realms Con prohibits signs or other materials that may be misconstrued as “panhandling” or “solicitation”. This includes signs such as “Free Hugs”, “Glomp Me”, or “Donate to “. All inappropriate signs as determined by Realms Con Staff will be seized and destroyed. Only signs that pertain to a particular cosplay or costume will be permitted. Example: The “Objection” sign from the Phoenix Wright video games.

Attendees may not charge other attendees (or anyone) for photos (of their cosplays, etc.) while on convention property. Attendees caught charging for photos will be asked to stop as a first offence and will have badge revoked without refund if offence continues.

Realms Con and the Omni Hotels and Resorts are not liable for any damaged, missing, or stolen possessions. Please keep a close eye on your items. If you should lose something, please contact the Omni Hotels and Resorts front desk.

Do not leave your bags unattended! Any bag left unattended will be turned over to the appropriate authorities. This may include Omni Hotels and Resorts, the Corpus Christi Police Department, the Corpus Christi Fire Department, and/or the Texas State Troopers.

In the interest of safety, any convention attendee may be denied entry to the dealers’ room, artists’ room, panel and/or event rooms if he or she attempts entry with any backpacks, briefcases, cosplay props or weapons, suitcases, or other items deemed unwieldy by Realms Con.

Bags are not allowed at the RAVE or Ball.

If at any time an Omni Hotels and Resorts employee or Realms Con volunteer is antagonistic or rude towards you, please inform Realms Con Staff.

Panel and main event rooms have a limited capacity. Due to this, it may become necessary to wait in line prior to gaining entry into some areas or events. Please be patient and understanding. We will do our best to accommodate as many people as we can as quickly and safely as possible.

Disabled persons, convention guests, dealers, on-duty volunteers, and staff are not required to stand in line for entry into any of the panel or main event rooms. If you have questions regarding this policy, please contact the convention director.

“Theft,” as defined by the Texas Penal Code, is a crime. Theft will not be tolerated and violators will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Any convention attendee, artist, dealer, guest, or Realms Con Staff will have their convention badge revoked without refund, be removed from the convention, and may possibly be banned to attend Realms Con in the future.

Realms Con reserves the right to revoke your convention badge and eject anyone at any time from the convention grounds without refund.

At all times please follow the directions of Realms Con Staff. These hard-working people are dedicated to making your experience more enjoyable, not to hinder or hurt you. Any convention attendee who refuses to comply with any reasonable requests asked by any member of Realms Con Staff or the Omni Hotels and Resorts Employees will be subject to removal from the convention grounds without refund.

If you have any concerns, problems, or questions please contact the convention director.

REALMS CON PROP & WEAPONS POLICY

Realms Con is committed to providing all convention attendees, staff, and the general public with a safe environment. To that end, Realms Con abides by all Texas Statutes found in the Texas Penal Code.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: By attending Realms Con you agree to abide by all conditions and terms defined within this prop and weapons policy.

All potentially harmful props or weapons must be inspected by Realms Con Staff or Corpus Christi Police (any or all), which will either:

Peace-bond the weapon with a zip tie identifying the weapon as safe to carry.

Or

Deem the prop or weapon as unsafe to carry and instruct the convention attendee to return the prop or weapon to his or her vehicle or room.

Failure to comply with Realms Con Staff decisions regarding props or weapons may result up to and including:

1) Seizure of the prop or weapon. We will not physically arrest the item from you, but you will be asked to turn it over or upon refusal be asked to leave the convention grounds. If necessary, the Corpus Christi Police Department may be called to intervene with any particularly unruly convention attendee. The safety of the majority is Realms Con’s primary concern in all matters.

2) Removal of convention attendee from Realms Con. Once again, we will not physically remove you from the convention grounds, but you will be asked to turn over your convention badge and leave the convention grounds. If necessary, the Corpus Christi Police Department may be called to intervene with any particularly unruly convention attendee.

Flagrant abuse of the Realms Con Prop & Weapons Policy may result in being banned from all future Realms Cons.

*A peace-bonding is a conspicuous lock, tie, or mark which makes or identifies something as unusable as a weapon, that is, that the owner’s intentions are purely peaceful.

At some conventions or public events, attendees carry real weapons or costume props that appear to be weapons. To prevent attendees from using real weapons at such events, the security team peace-bonds anything that might look like a weapon.

The event’s weapons policy may offer subjective criteria to determine what looks like a weapon. For example, a weapons policy may require a peace-bond for anything that a reasonable person might recognize as a weapon from a short distance in dim light. Real weapons are not allowed. Simulated or costume props may require conspicuous marks, such as bright ribbons or zip ties, to show that security has deemed them safe to carry. Simulated weapons or props which can be used as a weapon may be disabled or secured just like real weapons. For example, bright orange zip ties may be used to hold a sword in a scabbard or to hold a pistol in a holster.

Peace-bonding helps security control/prevent attendees from bringing or using real weapons to the event; anything that looks like a weapon but which is not peace-bonded is immediately suspicious.

REALMS CON VOLUNTEER POLICY

Summary

Realms Con is committed to providing all convention attendees, staff, and the general public with a fun and safe environment. To that end, Realms Con abides by all Texas Statutes found in the Texas Penal Code.

Below is the volunteer policy for Realms Con.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: To volunteer at Realms Con, you must be 18+ and agree to abide by all conditions and terms defined within this volunteer policy.

Realms Con Volunteer Policy

What are the benefits of being a volunteer at Realms Con?

First and foremost, the primary benefit of being a volunteer at Realms Con is the pride and satisfaction a volunteer feels at having accomplished something beneficial to others. Volunteering gives you an opportunity to make a difference to people’s lives in your community. You can use your skills and experience to help and enrich the local community. Volunteering is also fun and fulfilling, allowing you to experience many diverse opportunities not always available to you elsewhere. Myself, I look at Realms Con as a big amusement park that allows folks to take a break from the daily grind we call life and participate in a fun-filled weekend of joy and laughter. It sounds a little cheesy, even to my ears, but it really does feel good to know that people had a good time at Realms Con and I helped to make it happen.

Volunteers are able to attend Realms Con free-of-charge when not on-duty.

Volunteers receive an exclusive Realms Con badge not available to the general public.

Volunteers have access to a Volunteer Green Room where they can relax and grab a snack while off-duty.

What conditions must I meet to be a volunteer at Realms Con?

You have to be slightly crazy (j/k =p). Seriously though, it takes a special person to give a good chunk of time he or she could be using to enjoy a fun event and instead use that time to serve others. In order to volunteer you have to be 18+, super nice, and on your best behavior. We appreciate anyone willing to help us out, but you have got to remember that your sole purpose is to make sure convention attendees enjoy themselves and that everyone has fun in a safe environment. You have got to keep a level head and an even temper when dealing with anyone and everyone.

Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age and be able to prove this with a valid state driver’s license or ID card, military ID, or passport.

Volunteers must be able to work a minimum of one four-hour shift each day. Volunteers are able to work longer shifts and more than 4 hours per day if he or she desires.

What is acceptable behavior for volunteers at Realms Con?

Volunteers are expected to conduct themselves in a courteous manner prior to, during, and after the convention due to the possibility that volunteers may be construed as representatives of Realms Con. This includes participation in any online forums, chat rooms, or blogs. Even if the volunteer is not acting in an official capacity, others may view him or her as a representative of Realms Con (Especially if a volunteer position at Realms Con is indicated in some manner such as a volunteer t-shirt or forum signature).

It is Realms Con’s policy to treat all convention attendees, artists, dealers, guests, hotel staff, Realms Con Staff, and volunteers with courtesy and respect. All volunteers are expected to follow this policy.

Realms Con is firmly committed to the health and safety of its volunteers, and has a responsibility to provide a safe environment to its volunteers, convention attendees, guests, and the general public. Volunteers under the influence of alcohol or drugs at Realms Con are a hazard to themselves and to the health and well-being of others. The effects of certain drugs linger in the body and, therefore, recent use is as significant a problem as continuing use.

Volunteers are not allowed to consume or be under the influence of alcohol as defined in the Texas Penal Code while attending Realms Con.

Volunteers are not allowed to consume or be under the influence of illegal drugs or substances as defined in the Texas Health and Safety Code while attending Realms Con.

What are some expectations of Realms Con in regards to volunteers?

Volunteers are expected to report for their shift on time and remain there for the entire duration. If a volunteer needs to be absent for any reason, they are expected to notify the volunteer coordinators or convention director or assistant convention directors promptly so that the shift can be arranged to be covered. In order to arrange for proper convention coverage, volunteers should notify the volunteer coordinators at least two (2) hours prior to the start of their scheduled shift.

Volunteers are expected to wear their color-coded volunteer wristband at all times while on-duty. Volunteer wristbands will be issued by Realms Con to each volunteer at the beginning of their shift by the volunteer coordinators. Volunteers must return the volunteer wristband to the volunteer coordinators at the end of their shift. All volunteer wristbands are the property of Realms Con.

Volunteers are expected to report for duty in clean clothing with special attention to personal hygiene. A volunteer’s attire should not be tattered, contain obscene or offensive images or words, promote another convention, or be overly revealing. We respect people’s opinions and freedom of speech and expression, but when on duty, you are representing Realms Con. Realms Con staff may ask volunteer to change attire if not in compliance.

Volunteers are not permitted to allow non-volunteers entry into the Volunteer Green Room.

Alcohol, illegal drugs or substances, and cigarettes are not permitted in the Volunteer Green Room.

Parties are not permitted in the Volunteer Green Room.
The Volunteer Green Room door must not be left open or propped open.

What happens if I lose personal belongings or someone breaks into my vehicle while I’m volunteering at Realms Con?

Realms Con is not responsible for the theft or damage of volunteers’ personal property. You can help prevent theft if you consciously protect your belongings by taking some simple precautions. For example, do not bring valuables into the convention, do not leave valuables in plain sight in your vehicle, and make sure your vehicle is locked and secure.

If I violate this volunteer policy what type of disciplinary action will Realms Con take against me?

Any volunteers that violate this volunteer policy will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including ejection from Realms Con and the convention grounds and possibly being banned from all future Realms Cons. Most offenses can probably be resolved with a lecture from the convention director and a warning not to let it happen again.